Child safety chair cover and method of use thereof

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a portable and compact child safety chair cover. The child safety chair cover comprises a chair cover portion having a pocket configured to be positioned over the back of a chair. The child safety chair cover further comprises a harness portion to secure a child within, wherein the chair cover portion and harness portion are formed as one piece. Additionally, the child safety chair cover comprises tie straps attached with the chair cover portion and the harness portion. The tie straps attached to the chair cover portion secure the chair cover portion to the back of the chair, while the tie straps attached with the harness are used to secure the child inside the harness to the chair. The present invention is compact enough to be folded to fit into most diaper bags. Finally, the present invention is comprised of a machine-washable material.

PRIORITY CLAIM

The present application is a non-provisional patent application,claiming the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/023,700, filed on Jan. 25, 2008, entitled, “Tie Chair.”

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of Invention

The present invention relates to child safety chair cover and, moreparticularly, to a child safety chair cover which is compact andmachine-washable.

(2) Description of Related Art

Child safety chairs and harnesses have long been known in the art. Themajority of child safety chairs and harnesses are bulky and cumbersometo transport. Furthermore, many of these devices require multiplefastening clips, each of which must be separately fastened and adjustedto get the device to fit both the chair and the child. Finally, themajority of child safety chairs and harnesses comprise plastic elementswhich are often time consuming to clean.

Thus, a continuing need exists for a child safety chair cover which iseasily adjusted, compact enough to fit into a diaper bag, andmachine-washable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a safety chair cover. The safety chaircover comprises a chair cover portion having a pocket, the chair coverportion having a first end and a second end, wherein the pocket of thechair cover portion is configured to be positioned over the back of achair. The safety chair cover further comprises a harness portion, theharness portion having a first end and a second end, wherein the chaircover portion and harness portion are formed as one piece. Additionally,the safety chair cover comprises at least two tie straps attached withthe chair cover portion, wherein at least one tie strap is attached withthe first end of the chair cover portion and at least one tie strap isattached with the second end of the chair cover portion; and at leasttwo tie straps attached with the harness portion, wherein at least onetie strap is attached with the first end of the harness portion and atleast one tie strap is attached with the second end of the harnessportion.

In another aspect, the harness portion comprises two leg openings.

In another aspect, the chair cover portion, the harness portion, and theplurality of tie straps are formed from a machine-washable material.

As can be appreciated by one in the art, the present invention alsocomprises a method for using the safety chair cover described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects, features and advantages of the present invention will beapparent from the following detailed descriptions of the various aspectsof the invention in conjunction with reference to the followingdrawings, where:

FIG. 1 is a rear-view illustration of a child safety chair coveraccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front-view illustration of a child safety chair coveraccording to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a front-view illustration of a chair covered with a childsafety chair cover according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a rear-view illustration of a chair covered with a childsafety chair cover according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a front-view illustration of a chair covered with a childsafety chair cover depicting a child secured to the chair according tothe present invention;

FIG. 6 is a rear-view illustration of a chair covered with a childsafety chair cover depicting a child secured to the chair according tothe present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a right, side-view illustration of a chair covered with achild safety chair cover depicting a child secured to the chair presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to safety chair cover and, moreparticularly, to a safety chair cover which is compact andmachine-washable. The following description is presented to enable oneof ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and toincorporate it in the context of particular applications. Variousmodifications, as well as a variety of uses, in different applicationswill be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generalprinciples defined herein may be applied to a wide range of embodiments.Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to theembodiments presented, but is to be accorded with the widest scopeconsistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are setforth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the presentinvention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art thatthe present invention may be practiced without necessarily being limitedto these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures anddevices are shown in block diagram form, rather than in detail, in orderto avoid obscuring the present invention.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which arefiled concurrently with this specification and which are open to publicinspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papersand documents are incorporated herein by reference. All the featuresdisclosed in this specification, (including any accompanying claims,abstract, and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features servingthe same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly statedotherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each featuredisclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent orsimilar features.

Furthermore, any element in a claim that does not explicitly state“means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing aspecific function, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step”clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. Section 112, Paragraph 6. Inparticular, the use of “step of” or “act of” in the claims herein is notintended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, Paragraph 6.

Please note, if used, the labels left, right, front, back, top, bottom,forward, reverse, clockwise and counter-clockwise have been used forconvenience purposes only and are not intended to imply any particularfixed direction. Instead, they are used to reflect relative locationsand/or directions between various portions of an object. As such, as thepresent invention is changed, the above labels may change theirorientation.

(1) Introduction

There are many places that parents take their children that do not havehighchairs readily available. Often, parents are forced to hold theirchild on their lap while eating. This can be uncomfortable andimpractical for both the parent and the child. Parents have to settlefor this arrangement due to the inconvenience of transporting bulkybooster seats or highchairs.

The present invention presents a solution to the problem describedabove. The child safety chair cover is a portable chair cover that iscapable of fitting over most standard chairs and is utilized to safelyrestrain a child during a meal. The present invention may be employed byany parent at any location where highchairs are not available.Furthermore, the child safety chair cover is easily compacted to a sizesmall enough to fit into most diaper bags. Finally, the presentinvention is comprised entirely of a machine-washable material so thatthe entire child safety chair cover can be conveniently cleaned afteruse.

(2) Description

The present invention relates to a safety chair cover. In a desiredaspect, the safety chair cover is a child safety chair cover. However,as can be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the invention describedherein may also be used for older children with disabilities or elderlyadults with special needs. FIG. 1 depicts a rear-view illustration of achild safety chair cover 100 according to the present invention. Thechild safety chair cover 100 comprises a chair cover portion 102 havinga first end 104 and a second end 106. A harness portion 108 having afirst end 110 and a second end 112 is formed as part of the chair coverportion 102. As can be appreciated by one skilled in the art, theharness portion 108 is formed such that it is large enough toaccommodate and secure children of different sizes, or an adult, as thecase may be.

The chair cover portion 102 includes a pocket 114 configured to beslipped over the back of a standard chair, similar to a chair slipcover.The pocket 114 is formed from a second layer of material which is notattached with the harness portion 108. The chair cover portion 102 andthe pocket 114 therein are sized to accommodate a variety of standardsized chair backs to allow the child safety chair cover 100 to be usedon a variety of chairs.

The child safety chair cover 100 further includes tie straps 116 and 117which are utilized in securing both the chair cover portion 102 of thechild safety chair cover 100 to a chair and the harness portion 108 ofthe child safety chair cover 100 to a chair when a child is securedwithin the harness portion 108. As shown in FIG. 1, the tie straps 116and 117 are attached with the first 104 and second ends 106 of the chaircover portion 102 and with the first 110 and second ends 112 of theharness portion 108, respectively. As a non-limiting example, the childsafety chair cover 100 is depicted as having four tie straps 116 and117, two tie straps 116 attached with the chair cover portion 102 andtwo tie straps 117 attached with the harness portion 108. As can beappreciated by one skilled in the art, the present invention maycomprise any suitable number of tie straps 116 and 117 which allow thechild safety chair cover 100 to be used for its intended function. Thetie straps 116 and 117 allow the child safety chair cover 100 to beadjusted to fit a variety of sizes of chairs and people.

FIG. 2 depicts a front-view illustration of the child safety chair cover100. As shown, the chair cover portion 102 and harness portion 108 areformed as one piece. In a desired aspect, the harness portion 108further comprises two leg openings 200 which allow the harness portion108 to be comfortably and securely affixed to the child. In a desiredaspect, the leg openings 200 comprise rounded cut-outs, similar to ahalf circle.

FIG. 3 illustrates a front-view of the chair cover portion 102 of thechild safety chair cover 100 positioned over the back of a chair 300such that the back of the chair 300 is covered. As shown, when the chaircover portion 102 is slipped over the back of a chair 300, the harnessportion 108 lays flat against the seat of the chair 300 prior to a childbeing secured in the child safety chair cover 102. The leg openings 200provide space to accommodate the legs of a child positioned in theharness portion 108.

FIG. 4 illustrates a rear-view of the chair cover portion 102 coveringthe back of a chair 300. As shown, the tie straps 116 are wrapped aroundthe back of the chair 300 and tied securely to one another. As can beappreciated by one skilled in the art, the tie straps 116 are formed tobe any suitable length which allows the chair cover portion 102 to betightly secured to the back of a standard sized chair.

FIG. 5 illustrates a front-view illustration of a chair 300 covered witha child safety chair cover 100 with a child 500 secured to the chair 300by the harness portion 108 of the child safety chair cover 100. Tosecure a child 500 to a chair 300 with the child safety chair cover 100,one first positions the chair cover portion 102 over the back of a chair300 as described previously. The chair cover portion 102 is secured tothe back of the chair 300 by wrapping the tie straps 116 attached withthe chair cover portion 102 around the back of the chair 300 and tyingthe tie straps 116 to one another, such that the chair cover portion 102is tightly secured to the back of the chair 300, as depicted in FIG. 4.

Thereafter, a child 500 is positioned in the seat of the chair 300 ontop of the harness portion 108 so that the legs of the child arepositioned over the leg openings 200 of the harness portion 108. Theharness portion 108 is then folded up and toward the midsection of thechild 500, such that the harness portion 108 is positioned at chestlevel of the child, as shown in FIG. 5. It is essential that the harnessportion 108 be positioned at chest level to safely secure the child 500in an upright stable sitting position to prevent the child 500 fromslumping forward. The child 500 is then secured to the chair 300 bywrapping the tie straps 117 attached with the harness portion 108 aroundthe back of the chair 300, then back around the child 500, and tying thetie straps 117 to one another. Thus, the harness portion 108 is tightlysecured to the back of the chair 300 and the child 500 to maintain theposition of the child 500 in the chair 300. As can be appreciated by oneskilled in the art, the tie straps 117 are formed to be any suitablelength which allows the harness portion 108 to be tightly secured aroundthe back of a standard sized chair 300 and around a child 500.

For additional safety for older children, the tie straps 117 may bewrapped back around the back of the chair 300 after being wrapped aroundthe child 500 and secured at the back of the chair 300. Thisconfiguration is preferred if the child is old enough to undo the tiestraps 117 that would be secured in front of the child. By wrapping thetie straps 117 once more around the back of the chair 300, the child 500is safely secured to the chair 300 and unable to reach the tie straps117. In a desired aspect, the tie straps 117 attached with the harnessportion 108 are longer than the tie straps 116 attached with the chaircover portion 102.

FIG. 6 is a rear-view illustration of a chair 300 covered with a childsafety chair cover 100 depicting a child (not shown) secured to thechair 300. As a non-limiting example, the tie straps 116 attached withthe chair cover portion 102 are tied in a bow at the back of the chair300. However, as can be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the tiestraps 116 can be secured in any suitable type of stable knot.Additionally, the tie straps 117 attached with the harness portion (notshown) are shown as being wrapped around the back of the chair 300.However, if the older child configuration were to be used, the tiestraps 117 attached with the harness portion would be tied at the backof the chair 300 similar to the tie straps 116 attached with the chaircover portion.

FIG. 7 is a right, side-view illustration of a chair 300 covered with achild safety chair cover 100 depicting a child 500 secured to the chair300. As shown, the chair cover portion 102 is positioned over the backof the chair 300 and tightly secured using the tie straps 116. The child500 is positioned in the harness portion 108 and the tie straps 117 arewrapped securely around the chair 300 and back around the front of thechild 500 to secure the child 500 to the chair 300. In a desired aspect,the entire child safety chair cover 100 including the chair coverportion 102, the harness portion 108, and the tie straps 116 and 117 aremade of a machine-washable material so that the child safety chair cover100 can be conveniently cleaned. Non-limiting examples ofmachine-washable materials include cotton, cotton polyester blends,polyester, acrylic, polyester acrylic blends, wool, wool polyesterblends, cotton wool blends, cotton wool polyester blends, plastic,vinyl, canvas, duck, twill, denim, suede cloth, ultra suede, flannel,and corduroy.

1. A safety chair cover, comprising: a chair cover portion having apocket, the chair cover portion having a first end and a second end,wherein the pocket of the chair cover portion is configured to bepositioned over the back of a chair; a harness portion, the harnessportion having a first end and a second end, wherein the chair coverportion and harness portion are formed as one piece; at least two tiestraps attached with the chair cover portion, wherein at least one tiestrap is attached with the first end of the chair cover portion and atleast one tie strap is attached with the second end of the chair coverportion; and at least two tie straps attached with the harness portion,wherein at least one tie strap is attached with the first end of theharness portion and at least one tie strap is attached with the secondend of the harness portion.
 2. A safety chair cover as set forth inclaim 1, wherein the harness portion comprises two leg openings.
 3. Asafety chair cover as set forth in claim 2, wherein the chair coverportion, the harness portion, and the plurality of tie straps are formedfrom a machine-washable material.
 4. A method for using a safety chaircover with a chair having a back and a seat, comprising acts of:positioning a chair cover portion having a pocket over the back of achair, the chair cover portion having a first end and a second end, thechair cover portion further comprising at least two tie straps attachedwith the chair cover portion, wherein at least one tie strap is attachedwith the first end of the chair cover portion and at least one tie strapis attached with the second end of the chair cover portion, wherein aharness portion having a first end and a second end and formed as partof the chair cover portion lies flat on a seat of the chair, wherein theharness portion comprises at least two tie straps attached with theharness portion, wherein at least one tie strap is attached with thefirst end of the harness portion and at least one tie strap is attachedwith the second end of the harness portion; and wherein the harnessportion further comprises two leg openings; securing the chair coverportion to the back of the chair by wrapping the at least two tie strapsattached with the chair cover portion around the back of the chair andtying the at least two tie straps to one another, such that the chaircover portion is tightly secured to the back of the chair; positioning auser in the seat of the chair on top of the harness portion, wherein theuser is positioned such that the legs of the user are positioned overthe leg openings of the harness portion; folding the harness portionover a midsection of the user, such that the harness portion ispositioned at a chest level of the user; securing the user to the chairby wrapping the at least two tie straps attached with the harnessportion around the back of the chair and tying the at least two tiestraps to one another, such that the harness portion is tightly securedto the back of the chair to maintain the position of the user in thechair.
 5. A method for using a safety chair cover with a chair having aback and a seat as set forth in claim 4, wherein the at least two tiestraps attached with the harness portion are tied to one another infront of the user.
 6. A method for using a safety chair cover with achair having a back and a seat as set forth in claim 4, wherein at leasttwo tie straps attached with the harness portion are tied to one anotherat the back of the chair.